Hello! If I may join you, I would like to start this challenge. I have started today eating low carb. I am was 152.2 this morning. My goal weight is 130-135. I am new to this whole forum experience but was hoping that the camaraderie would be a help to me and that possibly I could be help and support to others.

I have a diet question. How do you feel about drinking the Atkins shakes as a meal replacement? I have heard that you really want to be strict in the induction phase and to actually put your body into "ketosis" or something like that...I bought the little test strips to see if that is actually happening or not. I guess I have to give it a couple of days before I will be able to tell. Do you think the shakes would interfere with the quick weight loss that most people experience in induction?

How do you guys get those cute little animations to show up on your posts???

Honestly, I would ditch the shakes and stick to real, whole food. In the beginning, eat as much as you want to not feel hungry, don't worry about calories, but keep your carbs low. Meat, eggs, cheese, healthy fats, and low carb veggies if your version of the plan calls for them. No shakes or bars.

Thank you MthrGoos! Unfortunately I bought two 4 packs of the stuff thinking I might use them. I will take your advice though and stick to real food for now. I was thinking that I should at least stick to real food for the first few weeks anyway. It is nice to know that there are others trying the same thing that I am...and that it is obviously working. Your progress is awesome!!!!

Sorry, another question...Do you worry about calories now? I know that to start off the advice seems to be to eat enough protein and fat that you don't feel hungry but would it be better to keep calorie count in mind?

Thank you princessmommy for the advice! I will definitely not drink the shakes (maybe I can even return them). Just curious, do you think that the shakes cause the weight to come off slower or that they are just not as healthy for you as real food? Either way, I'm taking the advice of someone with experience and really appreciate your input!

And welcome Love&Luck! You and I are similar in weight with similar goals it sounds like. However, I am 10 years older than you...I will be 55 Dec. 10th. I am interested to hear about your weight loss journey and compare notes. I wonder if the fact that I am older will make it more difficult for me to lose???

Looking forward to getting to know you all! What a great way to find the support needed to keep on track! I'm grateful for finding this forum!

Hi, I'd like to join the December challenge. I restarted Induction Thanksgiving Day ! I am waiting a few more days before I step on the scale. I know I am most likely in my 150s somewhere and been stuck there for years. My main goal for December is to get into the 140s. Ultimately plan to be in the 130s. I realize this will be a lifestyle change for me. I look forward to improving my health and well being. I've been working in retail for the holidays. With a crazy schedule and not being too organized right now, I have been bringing low carb shakes with me (but not planning on having the bars !) There are a lot of temptations everywhere at work. Yikes. Well I've been on induction for the past few days. Never made the full two weeks before but giving it a go. Hopefully this board and these posts will help keep me going and motivated . Have a great day!

Hi Laura, how was your trip???
Great to have you back, Thanksgiving without you cooking up a storm and creating new menus was different for sure, I hope that all went well and all is settled..you were indeed missed

Good morning! I actually started induction yesterday which was difficult because there are still yummy leftovers here at my house. I woke up this morning feeling a little head achy for some reason. I ate some scrambled eggs, drank a cup of chicken broth and drank a couple cups of coffee and feel better now. Yesterday I weighed 152.2. Ultimate goal is 130-135. I would like to take off at least 5 lbs by Christmas.
Today: December 1st : 149 lbs.

As some of you may remember from last year, I started out on Induction at 194.8 on June 5th. I got down to 150.8 on Thanksgiving morning. And life went to blech on December 21st when my husband suffered a massive stroke. I have regained 20 pounds since then. His recovery has gone very well, but when he was ready and cleared by his neurosurgeon to go back to work, his job told him they had "restructured" and they no longer needed his services. It's a very small employer and he had no recourse with them. Our youngest graduated from high school in June and we've decided that we're moving to Florida just after Christmas. DH spent about 17 days on his back in in the ICU with a tube in his head (and another couple of days there before he went to a rehab hospital). He lost 26 pounds in hospital, and about 25% of his muscle mass. He's since regained the weight, so he's doing Induction with me! He's already lost 10 pounds on Induction, I've lost about 3, but now it's time to go hardcore and get this done!

I hate the 20 pound gain, but had enough "good" days in there to keep about 25 pounds of the weight off. Ah to begin again.

December goals: Arm weight every other day, crunches everyday. Weight goal is a very aggressive 159.anything!